Linearized optical digital-to-analog modulator

ABSTRACT

A modulator device for converting digital data into modulation of an optical signal includes an electronic input for receiving an input data word of N bits and an electrically controllable modulator for modulating the intensity of an optical signal, the modulator including M actuating electrodes where M≧N. An electrode actuating device, most preferably a digital-to-digital converter, operates actuating electrodes so that at least one electrode is actuated as a function of values of more than one bit of the input data word. According to an alternative, or supplementary, aspect of the invention, the set of electrodes includes at least one electrode having an effective area which is not interrelated to others of the set by factors of two. In one preferred implementation, a Mach-Zehnder modulator also provides phase modulation to give QAM functionality. Another implementation employs a semiconductor laser.

This is a continuation of patent application Ser. No. 12/636,805, filedDec. 14, 2009, about to issue as U.S. Pat. No. 8,044,835, which is acontinuation in part of PCT Patent Application No. PCT/IL08/000805filed. Jun. 12, 2008, published as WO 2008/152642, which benefits fromthe filing date of Provisional Application No. 60/943,559 filed Jun. 13,2007.

FIELD AND BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to optical modulators and, in particular,it concerns a linearized optical digital-to-analog modulator.

There is a tangible need for high-performance and large bandwidthdigital to analog signal conversion. Furthermore, as the RF and digitaldomains converge, entirely new solutions will be needed to enablemulti-GHz mixed-signal systems. Probably the most prominent area tobenefit is the wireless communication industry. The ever increasingthirst for bandwidth will require data converters to deliver greatlyincreased performance. For example, analog signals are transmitted incable television (CATV) via optical fibers and the demand for increasingbandwidth is driving technology to speed-up the processing of signals aswell as the transmission. High performance digital to analog conversionis also required to address the growing demands of wireless carriers forsupporting the heavy traffic expected in the base station. Additionalspecific areas to benefit include: the defense and government industriesthat concentrate on deploying multi-function, dynamically reconfigurablesystems (RADAR, electronic warfare, and surveillance applications);medical imaging; and hyper/super-computer communications.

One of the most widely deployed devices for analog optics modulation isthe Mach-Zehnder Interferometer modulator (MZI). For binary digitalsignals, it is today the preferred device for long-haul fiber-opticcommunication, leading to chirp-free pulses which can reach hundreds ofkilometers in optical fibers without the need for regeneration. Foranalog applications, however, a serious problem is encountered due tothe inherent non-linear response of the modulator. Specifically, sincethe modulating voltage via the electro-optic effect controls the opticalphase delay in a basically linear fashion and the attenuation varies asthe cosine of the phase difference between the two branches of thedevice, a linear variation in phase difference and thus in appliedvoltage results in a cosine-shaped output variation, as seen in thepattern of points in FIG. 2A. The common solutions for this problem areeither the biasing of the device to a quasi linear regime coupled withreducing the modulation range to reduce distortion, or use of an analogpre-distortion circuit to feed the modulator. Since in practically allpresent systems signals are processed digitally, a multi-bitDigital-to-Analog Converter (DAC) device is needed with fast processingcapabilities.

A DAC based on a multi-electrode MZI modulator concept was proposed manyyears ago by Papuchon et al. and is described in U.S. Pat. No.4,288,785. In that device, the electrodes' sectioning length followed aconventional power-of-two digital sequence, which did not solve thenon-linearity problem, and thus suffered from severe limitation in thedynamic range, and subsequently the attainable resolution. Morerecently, much more complex devices have been presented to cope withthese problems: Yacoubian et al. (“Digital-to-analog conversion usingelectrooptic modulators,” IEEE Photonics Technology Letters, vol. 15,pp. 117-119, January 2003), proposed the employment of one MZI modulatorfor each and every bit. A recently reported design by Leven et al. (“A12.5 gsamples/s optical digital-to-analog converter with 3.8 effectivebits,” Lasers and Electro-Optics Society, 2004. LEOS 2004. The 17thAnnual Meeting of the IEEE, vol. 1, pp. 270-271, November2004), also thesubject of U.S. Pat. No. 7,061,414 entitled “Optical Digital-To-AnalogConverter” to Y K Chen et al., employs a single modulator for every 2bits and is highly nonlinear; it yields only 3.8 effective bits for a 6bit design.

There is therefore a need for a digital to analog converter which wouldoffer improved linearity of response without sacrificing efficiency ordynamic range.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The present invention is a linearized optical digital-to-analogmodulator.

According to the teachings of the present invention there is provided, amodulator device for converting digital data into analog modulation ofthe power of an optical signal, the modulator device comprising: (a) anelectronic input for receiving an input data word of N bits; (b) anelectrically controllable modulator for modulating the intensity of anoptical signal, the modulator including M actuating electrodes whereM≧N; and (c) an electrode actuating device associated with theelectronic input and the modulator, the electrode actuating device beingresponsive to the input data word to supply an actuating voltage to theactuating electrodes, wherein the modulator has a response such thatapplication of an actuating voltage to actuating electrodes inone-to-one relation to bits of the input data word generates modulationof the optical signal according to a first function of the input dataword, and wherein the electrode actuating device is configured toactuate the actuating electrodes so as to generate an improvedapproximation to modulation of the optical signal as a second functionof the input data word, the second function being different from thefirst function.

According to a further feature of the present invention, the electrodeactuating device includes a digital-to-digital converter.

According to a further feature of the present invention, the modulatoris a modulated semiconductor light generating device. According to analternative feature of the present invention, the modulator is anelectro-absorption modulator. According to yet a further alternative,the modulator is a Mach-Zehnder modulator.

According to a further feature of the present invention, in the case ofa Mach-Zehnder modulator, the modulator includes M actuating electrodeson each of two waveguide branches of the modulator. In certain preferredcases, M is greater than N.

According to a further feature of the present invention, in the case ofa Mach-Zehnder modulator, the electrode actuating device is configuredto actuate the first and second pluralities of actuating electrodes soas to modulate the optical signal according to a QAM (QuadratureAmplitude Modulation) modulation scheme with at least 16 constellationpoints.

According to a further feature of the present invention, the electrodeactuating device is configured to actuate the first and secondpluralities of actuating electrodes so as to modulate the optical signalto a minimum amplitude for a return-to-zero signal between successiveinput data words.

According to a further feature of the present invention, the modulatorhas a maximum dynamic range, and wherein the electrode actuating deviceis configured to actuate the actuating electrodes so as to generatemodulation of the optical signal spanning a majority of the dynamicrange.

According to a further feature of the present invention, the electrodeactuating device is configured to apply one of two common actuatingvoltages to the actuating electrodes.

According to a further feature of the present invention, the actuatingelectrodes have differing effective areas. According to one set ofapplications, the differing effective areas form a set, members of theset being interrelated approximately by factors of two. In otherpreferred cases, the set including at least one effective area which isnot interrelated to others of the set by factors of two.

According to a further feature of the present invention, wherein thefirst function is a non-linear function of the input data word, andwherein the second function is a linear function of the input data word.

According to a further feature of the present invention, there is alsoprovided an optical to electrical converter deployed so as to generatean electrical signal as a function of intensity of the modulated opticalsignal.

There is also provided according to a further feature of the presentinvention, an apparatus comprising a digital-to-analog converter, theconverter comprising: (a) an electronic input for receiving an inputdata word of N bits; (b) an electrically controllable modulator formodulating the intensity of an optical signal, the modulator including Mactuating electrodes where M≧N; and (c) an electrode actuating deviceassociated with the electronic input and the modulator, the electrodeactuating device being responsive to the input data word to supply anactuating voltage to the actuating electrodes, wherein the modulator hasa response such that application of an actuating voltage to actuatingelectrodes in one-to-one relation to bits of the input data wordgenerates modulation of the optical signal according to a firstfunction, and wherein voltages are applied to the actuating electrodesso as to generate an improved approximation to modulation of the opticalsignal as a second function of the input data word, the second functionbeing different from the first function.

There is also provided according to the teachings of the presentinvention, a method for converting a digital data input word of N bitsinto an analog signal comprising: (a) processing the digital data inputword to generate an electrode actuation vector of M values where M≧N;and (b) applying M voltage values corresponding to the actuation vectorvalues to M actuating electrodes of an electrically controllablemodulator for modulating the intensity of an optical signal, wherein atleast one value of the actuation vector varies as a function of valuesof more than one bit of the input data word.

According to a further feature of the present invention, the electrodeactuation vector is a binary vector, and wherein the M voltage valuesare selected from two voltage levels according to the M binary values.

According to a further feature of the present invention, the processingis performed by a digital-to-digital converter.

According to a further feature of the present invention, an electricaloutput is generated as a function of the intensity of the modulatedoptical signal.

There is also provided according to the teachings of the presentinvention, a modulator device for converting digital data into analogmodulation of the power of an optical signal, the modulator devicecomprising: (a) an electronic input for receiving an input data word ofN bits; (b) a semiconductor light generating device for generating anoptical signal of variable intensity, the semiconductor light generatingdevice including M actuating electrodes where M≧N; and (c) an electrodeactuating device associated with the electronic input and thesemiconductor light generating device, the electrode actuating devicebeing responsive to the input data word to supply an actuating voltageto the actuating electrodes, thereby generating an output intensitycorresponding substantially to the input data word, wherein thesemiconductor light generating device has a response such thatapplication of an actuating voltage to actuating electrodes inone-to-one relation to bits of the input data word generates an outputintensity of the optical signal varying according to a first function ofthe input data word, and wherein the electrode actuating device isconfigured to actuate the actuating electrodes so as to generate animproved approximation of the output intensity as a second function ofthe input data word, the second function being different from the firstfunction.

According to a further feature of the present invention, the actuatingelectrodes have differing effective areas.

According to a further feature of the present invention, the differingeffective areas form a set, members of the set being interrelatedapproximately by factors of two.

According to a further feature of the present invention, the differingeffective areas form a set, the set including at least one effectivearea which is not interrelated to others of the set by factors of two.

According to a further feature of the present invention, M=N.

According to a further feature of the present invention, thesemiconductor light generating device is a semiconductor laser.

According to a further feature of the present invention, thesemiconductor laser further includes a threshold electrode configured toprovide a threshold actuation current.

According to a further feature of the present invention, thesemiconductor light generating device is a light emitting diode.

There is also provided according to the teachings of the presentinvention, a modulator device for converting digital data into analogmodulation of the power of an optical signal, the modulator devicecomprising: (a) an electronic input for receiving an input data word ofN bits; (b) an electrically controllable modulator for modulating theintensity of an optical signal, the modulator including M actuatingelectrodes where M≧N; and (c) an electrode actuating device associatedwith the electronic input and the modulator, the electrode actuatingdevice being responsive to the input data word to supply an actuatingvoltage to the actuating electrodes, wherein the actuating electrodeshave differing effective areas, the differing effective areas forming aset, the set including at least one effective area which is notinterrelated to others of the set by factors of two.

At this point, it will be useful to define various terminology as usedherein in the description and claims. The terms “digital” and “analog”are used in their normal senses as common in the field. Specifically,“digital” refers to a form of data where values are stored or processednumerically, typically broken up into bits of a binary number formachine processing, whereas “analog” refers to a form of data in whichvalues are represented by different levels within a range of values ofan essentially continuously variable parameter.

The phrase “digital-to-digital converter” is used to refer to a devicewhich maps a set of possible digital input values to a set of possibledigital output values, where the input and output values arenon-identical. The “digital-to-digital converter” employed by certainembodiments of the present invention is a non-trivial converter in whichthere is typically not a one-to-one mapping between bits of the inputdata and bits of the output data, as will be clear from the descriptionfollowing.

The term “binary” is used to refer to values, voltages or otherparameters which assume one or other of only two possible values, andmodes of operation which use such parameters. In this context, voltagelevels are referred to as “common” to a number of electrodes ifactivation of the electrodes is performed by switching connection ofeach of the electrodes between the voltage values in question.

The term “electrode” is used to refer to the electrical connections ofan optical modulator device through which the device is controlled. Inthe case of an electrode which applies an electric field to affect theoptical properties of an adjacent material, reference is made to an“effective area” which is used as an indication of the relativeinfluence of the electrode compared to that of other electrodes on theoptical properties of the underlying waveguide if actuated by a similarvoltage. In many cases, the actuating electrodes are all of the sameeffective width, for example where they overlie a long narrow waveguide.The “effective area” may then be referred to as an “effective length”,corresponding to the length of waveguide overlaid by the correspondingelectrode and related to the “effective area” by a constant scalingfactor. This scaling factor will vary according to variations in shape,width, waveguide properties or other design parameters. Any part of theelectrode not overlying the active part of the modulator device orotherwise ineffective for generating modulation of an optical signal isnot included in the “effective area”.

The term “modulator” is used to refer to any device which outputs anoptical signal with controlled variation of intensity, whether thevariation is induced during production of the signal (such as in asemiconductor laser) or whether a signal input from another source ismodified.

The term “optical power” is used to refer to the quantitativemanifestation of the analog optical signal.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

The invention is herein described, by way of example only, withreference to the accompanying drawings, wherein:

FIG. 1 is a schematic representation of a modulator device, constructedand operative according to the teachings of the present invention, forconverting digital data into analog modulation of an optical orelectrical signal;

FIG. 2A is a graph showing the intensity output generated by anunmodified Mach-Zehnder modulator employing four electrodes with lengthsinterrelated by factors of two and driven directly by corresponding bitsof a digital input word, the output being shown relative to a linecorresponding to an ideal linear response;

FIG. 2B is a graph showing an intensity output generated according to animplementation of the present invention employing a full-rangeMach-Zehnder modulator with four electrodes of lengths interrelated byfactors of two driven according to the teachings of the presentinvention;

FIG. 2C is a graph similar to FIG. 2B showing the intensity outputachieved by further modifying electrode lengths according to a furtheraspect of the present invention;

FIG. 3A is a graph showing the intensity output achieved by themodulator of the present invention implemented with five actuatingelectrodes for a four bit input word, where the five electrodes havelengths interrelated by factors of two;

FIG. 3B is a graph similar to FIG. 3A showing the intensity outputachieved by further modifying electrode lengths according to a furtheraspect of the present invention;

FIG. 4 is a table illustrating a digital-to-digital converter input andoutput where the input corresponds to the input data word and the outputcorresponds to the electrode actuation pattern for generating theoutputs of FIGS. 2B and 2C;

FIG. 5 is a table illustrating unoptimized and optimized normalizedelectrode lengths for cases on input words of 4 and 8 bits and numbersof electrodes of 4, 5, 8, 9 and 10;

FIG. 6A is a graph showing the intensity output generated by anunmodified Mach-Zehnder modulator employing eight electrodes withlengths interrelated by factors of two and driven directly bycorresponding bits of a digital input word, the output being shownrelative to a line corresponding to an ideal linear response;

FIG. 6B is a graph showing an intensity output generated according to animplementation of the present invention employing a Mach-Zehndermodulator with eight electrodes of lengths interrelated by factors oftwo driven according to the teachings of the present invention;

FIG. 6C is a graph similar to FIG. 6B showing the intensity outputachieved by further modifying electrode lengths according to a furtheraspect of the present invention;

FIG. 7A is a graph showing the intensity output achieved by themodulator of the present invention implemented with nine actuatingelectrodes for an eight bit input word, where the nine electrodes havelengths interrelated by factors of two;

FIG. 7B is a graph similar to FIG. 7A showing the intensity outputachieved by further modifying electrode lengths according to a furtheraspect of the present invention;

FIG. 8 is a schematic representation of an alternative implementation ofthe present invention based upon an electro-absorption modulator (EAM);

FIG. 9 is a schematic representation of yet another alternativeimplementation of the present invention based upon a semiconductorlaser;

FIG. 10 is a schematic representation of a modulator device, similar tothe device of FIG. 1, implemented as a 16-QAM modulator;

FIG. 11A is a constellation diagram for the device of FIG. 10illustrating a choice of constellation points, and correspondingelectrode actuation patterns, for implementing a 16-QAM modulator;

FIG. 11B is a graph showing the symbol error rate performance for thedevices of FIGS. 12A implemented with different numbers of electrodes;

FIGS. 12A and 12B are simplified constellation diagrams showing onlyclosest matching points for implementation of a 64-QAM using two sets of7 electrodes and a 256-QAM using two sets of 10 electrodes,respectively;

FIGS. 13A and 13B are graphs showing the symbol error rate performancefor the devices of FIGS. 12A and 12B, respectively; and

FIG. 14 is a schematic representation of a prior art Mach-Zehndermodulator configured as a DAC.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

The present invention is a modulator device for converting digital datainto analog modulation of an optical signal.

The principles and operation of modulator devices according to thepresent invention may be better understood with reference to thedrawings and the accompanying description.

Referring now to the drawings, FIG. 1 shows schematically a modulatordevice, generally designated 10, constructed and operative according tothe teachings of the present invention, for converting digital data intoanalog modulation of an optical signal. Generally speaking, modulatordevice 10 has an electronic input 12 for receiving an input data word Dof N bits and an electrically controllable modulator 14 for modulatingthe intensity of an optical signal represented by arrow 16. Modulator 14includes M actuating electrodes 18 where M≧N. Modulator device 10 alsoincludes an electrode actuating device 20 responsive to the input dataword D to supply an actuating voltage to the actuating electrodes 18. Itis a particular feature of a first aspect of the present invention thatelectrode actuating device 20 actuates at least one of actuatingelectrodes 18 as a function of values of more than one bit of the inputdata word D. In other words, at least one of the electrodes is actuatedin a manner differing from a simple one-to-one mapping of data bits toelectrode voltage, thereby providing freedom to choose the electrodeactuation pattern which best approximates a desired ideal output for thegiven input. According to a second complementary, or alternative, aspectof the present invention, the effective areas of actuating electrodesare optimized so that at least some of the electrode effective areasdiffer from a simple factor-of-two series.

The basic operation of a first preferred implementation of modulatordevice 10 will be understood with reference to FIGS. 2A and 2B. FIG. 2Ashows the output intensity values which would be obtained by supplying avoltage sufficient to generate full dynamic range modulation to a set offour electrodes according to a direct mapping of each bit of a 4-bitinput data word to a corresponding electrode. The full range of inputvalues 0000 through 1111 and the corresponding output intensities havebeen normalized to the range 0-1. The marked deviation from linearity inthe form of a cosine variation is clearly visible. In contrast, FIG. 2Bshows the output intensity using the same four electrodes after theinput data has been mapped according to the teachings of the presentinvention to a pattern of electrode actuation approximating more closelyto a linear response. In other words, for each input value, the outputvalue from FIG. 2A most closely approximating the correspondingtheoretical linear response is determined, and the corresponding patternof electrode actuation is applied. By way of example, in FIG. 2A, itwill be noted that output point 22 corresponding to an input of 0011 ishigher than desired for the ideal linear response. The outputs generatedby electrode actuation patterns corresponding to value 0100 (point 24)is closer to the required value, and 0101 (point 26) is even closer. Anoutput pattern of 0101 is thus chosen to correspond to an input of 0011.The overall result is an output which much more closely approximates toa linear response as shown.

Most preferably, electrode actuating device 20 includes adigital-to-digital converter. It will be appreciated that such aconverter may be implemented from very straightforward and high-speedlogic components which make it feasible to employ the present inventionin high frequency systems. Electronic input 12 may be simply the inputpins of digital-to-digital converter 20. FIG. 4 illustrates a preferredimplementation of the digital-to-digital mapping employed to generatethe output of FIG. 2B. A digital-to-digital converter suitable forimplementing the various embodiments of the present invention mayreadily be implemented using commercially available high-speedApplication Specific Integrated Circuits (“ASIC”), as will be clear toone ordinarily skilled in the art.

The first implementation described thus far features N=M=4 with lengthsof the electrodes retaining the conventional ratios of factors of twoand employing simple on-off level voltage switching of a commonactuating voltage to all currently actuated actuating electrodes. Whilesuch an implementation offers markedly improved linearity of responsecompared to the unmodified response of FIG. 2A, it should be noted thatthe output intensity is not uniquely defined for each input value. Whereuniqueness of the output values is required, or where a higher degree oflinearity is needed, further modification may be required. Various formsof further modification may be employed including, but not limited to:use of multiple actuating voltage levels; use of modified electrodelengths; and addition of additional electrodes (i.e., M>N). Thesedifferent options will be discussed below.

One option for further modification of the output is to modify theactuating voltage applied to each electrode, such as by switchingbetween different distinct voltage levels.

An alternative preferred option for modifying the output to achieve abetter approximation to a linear output is modification of the electrodelengths relative to the factor of two series assumed above. Anon-limiting example of an approach for determining preferred electrodeproportions will be presented below in the context of a Mach-Zehndermodulator. A corresponding practical example of electrode length valuesfor N=M=4 is shown in the second column of FIG. 5. FIG. 2C illustratesthe intensity output employing electrodes with lengths in theproportions listed. A comparison of the root-mean-square error fromlinearity for FIGS. 2B and 2C shows that the adjustment of electrodelengths results in an additional slight improvement to linearity.

A further option for modifying the performance of modulator device 10 isthe addition of one or more additional electrodes, i.e., M>N. Thisprovides an additional degree of freedom for correcting non-linearity ofthe response. In the case of unmodified electrode dimensions related byfactors of two, each additional electrode is typically half thedimension of the previously smallest electrode. Where the electrodedimensions are further modified, the additional electrode dimension ispreferably included within an optimization process in order to determinea preferred dimension for the additional electrode(s) along with theother electrodes. FIGS. 3A and 3B show outputs from the device of thepresent invention for an example of N=4 and M=5, with and withoutmodification of the electrode dimensions, respectively. The electrodelengths are shown for the unmodified series in the first column of FIG.5 and for the optimized length electrodes in the third column of FIG. 5.

Parenthetically, although the present invention is described herein inthe context of a preferred example of linearization of a modulatordevice which inherently has a non-linear response, the principles of thepresent invention may equally be applied to any case where a naturalresponse of a modulator provides a first function and a desired responseis a different second function which may be linear or non-linear. Thus,the present invention may be employed to convert a digital input into ananalog output approximating to any desired response curve within thedynamic range of the modulator. Non-limiting examples include where adesired output response curve is sinusoidal or exponential, or where itis desired to increase the resolution or “contrast” of the output withina specific range of input values.

Clearly, the present invention is not limited to applications with 4-bitdata input, and can be implemented with substantially any number of databits commensurable with other limitations of the system, such assignal-to-noise requirements. By way of example, FIGS. 6A-6C, 7A and 7Billustrate a number of implementations with 8-bit input data words.Specifically, for purpose of reference, FIG. 6A shows the unmodifiedoutput of an 8-bit arrangement where each data bit is applied directlyto a corresponding electrode, again showing the underlying cosineresponse of the modulator. FIG. 6B illustrates the output of animplementation according to the teachings of the present invention withN=M=8 and standard lengths of electrodes interrelated by factors of 2,as in the fourth column of FIG. 5. FIG. 6C shows output for a similardevice where the electrode lengths have been modified according to thevalues shown in the fifth column of FIG. 5. FIGS. 7A and 7B show theoutput of similar devices for N=8 but with an extra electrode, i.e.,M=9. In the case of FIG. 7A, the device has unmodified electrode lengthsas shown in the fourth column of FIG. 5, while in the device of FIG. 7B,the electrode lengths are modified according to the proportions shown inthe sixth column of FIG. 5.

EXAMPLE I Mach-Zehnder Modulator

By way of example, there will now be presented a theoretical treatmentof one particularly preferred example of modulator device 10 implementedusing a Mach-Zehnder modulator, also referred to as a Mach-ZehnderInterferometer or “MZI”. This theoretical treatment is presented tofacilitate an understanding of the present invention and as a suggestedtechnique for calculating certain parameters. However, it should benoted that the invention as described above has been found to beeffective, independent of the accuracy or otherwise of this theoreticaltreatment.

The Mach-Zehnder modulator is an active integrated waveguide deviceconsisting of a higher index guide region that splits into two pathswhich are combined again after a certain distance. Each of these pathsis referred to as a leg or branch. When used as a switch, the MZI may beturned “off” by raising or lowering the index of refraction in one ofthe legs. This is achieved by employing the electro-optic effect toproduce a 180-degree change in phase by means of optical-path length.Intermediate optical attenuation levels can be obtained by inducingchanges other than 180 degrees.

In the case described above of FIG. 1, a 4-bit Digital-to-AnalogConverter, based on a Multi-Electrode (ME) Mach-Zehnder Interferometer,is presented. The input to the device consists of 4 bits. Using theDigital-to-Digital converter, which may be thought of as a look-uptable, the 4 data bits are mapped to 5 electrodes as this realization isequipped with a single excess electrode. According to one option, if anelectrical rather than optical output is desired, the optical signal atthe output is detected and converted to an electrical (analog) signal.

It should be noted that, in the context of a MZI, it is common to splitthe electrodes to act in an opposite manner on the two legs of thedevice, for example, one side raising and the other lowering therefractive index of the material, thereby reducing the actuation voltagerequired. In such cases, the value M is the number of actuatingelectrodes on each of the two waveguide branches of the modulator.

Mathematical Description

The properties of the MZI may be described mathematically as follows.Let I denote a vector of electrode lengths. The number of elements in Iis M. Also let V denote a corresponding vector (of length M) ofelectrode control-voltages. When applying a voltage V_(j) only toelectrode e_(j), whose length is l_(j), the phase of light propagatingin the modulating leg, shifts by

${\pi\frac{V_{j} \cdot l_{j}}{v_{\pi} \cdot l_{\pi}}},$where v_(π)·l_(π) corresponds to the voltage-length product leading to aπ shift in the phase. It is used as a merit figure of the MZI modulator.We define new normalized electrode length by:

$\begin{matrix}{L_{j} = \frac{l_{j}}{l_{\pi}}} & (1)\end{matrix}$Gathering the total contribution from all electrodes, the followingtransmission function of the MZI is obtained:

$\begin{matrix}{{{T\left( {V,L} \right)} = {\cos^{2}\left( {\frac{\pi}{2}\frac{V \cdot L^{T}}{v_{\pi}}} \right)}},} & (2)\end{matrix}$where the superscript T denotes transposition. The contribution fromeach electrode e_(j), j=1, 2, . . . M, to the total phase shift, ispermitted by applying some non-zero voltage V_(j)=v. We chose to workwith binary values for all electrode voltages, V_(j)=0,v, a clearlydesirable requirement which, moreover, makes the design simpler asdiscussed next. Note that by setting the lower voltage to a valuegreater than zero, the maximum output level of the MZI is decreased thusreducing the dynamic range. Let D_(i) denote a digital binary inputvector of length N, where i=1, . . . , 2^(N). For each digital vectorD_(i), the DDC component in FIG. 1 produces a corresponding binaryvector B_(i), of length M. B_(i) multiplied by v, represents the actual(internal) vector of voltages controlling the M electrodes. Whenmultiplying a real number, B_(i) should be interpreted as binary vectorwhose elements are the real numbers {0,1}. With respect to (2), thismeans that when V_(j)=v, then and when B_(ij)32 1, and when V_(j)=0,B_(ij)=0; B_(ij) being the j-th element of the control vector B_(i). Atthis time we define B to be a matrix of size 2^(N)×M whose rows consistof the set of binary control vectors B_(i), each of length M. Hence, (2)can be rewritten as

$\begin{matrix}{{T\left( {B_{i},L} \right)} = {\cos^{2}\left( {\frac{\pi}{2}\frac{v}{v_{\pi}}{\sum\limits_{j = 1}^{M}{B_{ij}L_{j}}}} \right)}} & (3)\end{matrix}$

Without loss of generality v=v_(π) will be assumed henceforth.(Preferably V_(j)=v_(π) to ensure full coverage of the modulating rangeand efficient use of the input optical power.) When the number ofelectrodes equals the number of data bits, i.e. when M=N, animplementation in a standard approach according to the system of FIG. 10while trying to exploit the dynamic range of the transfer function (3)to its fullest results in high nonlinearity errors. This is demonstratedin FIG. 2A for M=N=4. For this demonstration it is assumed that anunoptimized straightforward selection is made, where B is the set of all16 binary 4-tuples, i.e. B^(T)={0000, . . . , 1111} and L is taken as{0.5,0.25,0.125,0.0625}. In the next section, one suggested approach tooptimizing L and B will be proposed.

Optimization of B and L

In order to improve the linearity as well as the dynamic range of theconversion process, we propose that the lengths of the elements of L andthe control vectors B be optimized. As described above, it is possibleto optimize one or both of B and L. In practice, optimization of L alonemay provide a non-monotonic variation of output together with someimprovement in linearity and dynamic range. This may be sufficient forapplications in which the non-linearity is relatively small, such as thesemiconductor laser embodiments to be discussed below. For moresignificantly non-linear devices, the options of optimized B withunoptimized L, and optimized B and L are typically more suitable.

We consider these options separately since their implementation requiredifferent hardware. An unoptimized set of electrode lengths L consistsof L=2^(−j), with j=1 . . . M. An unoptimized matrix B will consist ofall 2^(N) binary N-tuples. In that case, with a slight abuse ofnotations we have that B_(i)=D_(i); i=0, 1, 2, . . . 2^(N)−1. Hence,designs with optimized B require Digital-to-Digital conversion whiledesigns with optimized L only do not. Whenever B is optimized, and forany number of electrodes M; M≧N, it is understood that a binary inputdata vector D_(i) has to be mapped to a control vector B_(i), yetB_(i)≠D_(i). The DDC, implemented as all-electronic, shall perform thismapping operation.

As the optimization criterion we shall use the root mean square error(RMSE) between an ideal output, represented by a straight line, and theconverter output. Let

$U_{i} = \frac{i}{2^{N}}$denote the ideal analog value required for representing the digitalinput D_(i). The RMSE is defined as follows:

$\begin{matrix}{{g\left( {B,L} \right)} = \sqrt{\frac{1}{2^{N}}{\sum\limits_{i = 1}^{2^{N}}\left\lbrack {U_{i} - {\cos^{2}\left( {\frac{\pi}{2}{\sum\limits_{j = 1}^{M}{B_{ij}L_{j}}}} \right)}} \right\rbrack^{2}}}} & (4)\end{matrix}$

The optimization problem can now be formulated as minimizing the valuesof g(B,L) for all possible values of the matrix B and the vector L.

Note that this optimum solution is aimed at minimizing the average(squared) deviation between the desired output and the converter output.

Clearly, this is only one non-limiting example, and various otherlinearity measures may equally be used. Similarly, as mentioned earlier,the desired output response function itself may take any desired form,and for each function, a suitable optimization criterion must beselected.

Approaching (4) as a global optimization problem with an order ofO(2^(N)×M) variables, is quite involved, especially since the variablesare of mixed type, B is binary while L is real. (It is related to anonlinear mixed integer zero-one optimization problem.) It is thereforetypically preferred to employ a near-optimum two-step approach. First, Bis determined assuming an unoptimized set of electrodes L, L_(j)=2^(−j),with j=1 . . . M. The obtained matrix is denoted by {circumflex over(B)}. Then, given {circumflex over (B)}, L is obtained such that (4) isminimized.

If L is an unoptimized set of electrodes, L_(j)=2^(−j). Then, the outputof the converter as given by (3) is a function of the control B_(i)only. Since one aims at obtaining a straight line, whose quantizedvalues are given by U_(i), then it is not difficult to verify that thebest approximated selection of {circumflex over (B)}_(i) is given by

$\begin{matrix}{{{\hat{B}}_{i} = {{Dec}\; 2{{Bin}_{M}\left( {\frac{2}{\pi}{\arccos\left( \sqrt{U_{i}} \right)}} \right)}}},} & (5)\end{matrix}$where the function Dec2Bin_(M)(x) maps a real value x, 0<x≦1, to itsclosest M-bit binary representation. Note that this, in effectquantization, process may result in several input data vectors havingthe same analog representation. In applications in which this duplicaterepresentation is considered problematic, it is effectively mitigated bychoosing M>N.

Given {circumflex over (B)}, we proceed to optimize L. Assuming thereexists a set of electrodes L such that

${{{\cos^{2}\left( {\frac{\pi}{2}{\sum\limits_{j = 1}^{M}{{\hat{B}}_{ij}L_{j}}}} \right)} \approx U_{i}};{\forall i}},$then as an alternative to (4), we may define an equivalent costfunction, which is easier to handle mathematically:

$\begin{matrix}{{h(L)} = {\left\{ {\sum\limits_{i = 1}^{2^{N}}\left\lbrack {{\frac{2}{\pi}{\arccos\left( \sqrt{U_{i}} \right)}} - {\sum\limits_{j = 1}^{M}{{\hat{B}}_{ij}L_{j}}}} \right\rbrack^{2}} \right\}.}} & (6)\end{matrix}$To minimize this cost function, one needs to differentiate h(L) withrespect to L and equate to 0:

$\begin{matrix}{{\frac{\partial h}{\partial L_{k}} = {{2\left\{ {\sum\limits_{i = 1}^{2^{N}}{{\hat{B}}_{ik}\left\lbrack {{\frac{2}{\pi}{\arccos\left( \sqrt{U_{i}} \right)}} - {\sum\limits_{j = 1}^{M}{{\hat{B}}_{ij}L_{j}}}} \right\rbrack}} \right\}} = 0}};{\forall{k.}}} & (7)\end{matrix}$The following equation (more precisely set of equations) is obtained

$\begin{matrix}{{{\sum\limits_{i = 1}^{2^{N}}{\sum\limits_{j = 1}^{M}{{\hat{B}}_{ik}{\hat{B}}_{ij}L_{j}}}} = {\sum\limits_{i = 1}^{2^{N}}{{\hat{B}}_{ik}\frac{2}{\pi}{\arccos\left( \sqrt{U_{i}} \right)}}}},} & (8)\end{matrix}$where k=1, 2 . . . M. In matrix notation the set of equation translatesto a simple expression

$\begin{matrix}{{L = {\left( {{\hat{B}}^{T}\hat{B}} \right)^{- 1}{\frac{2}{\pi}\left\lbrack {{\arccos\left( \sqrt{U} \right)}\hat{B}} \right\rbrack}^{T}}},} & (9)\end{matrix}$where √{square root over (U)} amounts to a component-wise square root.The solution above grants us an optimized vector of lengths L

EXAMPLE II Electro-Absorption Modulator

As mentioned earlier, the present invention is not limited toimplementations based on Mach-Zehnder modulators, and can be implementedusing any device which modulates light intensity as a function ofapplied voltage. By way of one additional non-limiting implementation,FIG. 8 shows an analogous implementation of the present invention usingan electro-absorption modulator.

An electro-absorption modulator (EAM) is a semiconductor device whichallows control of the intensity of a laser beam via an electric voltage.Its operational principle is typically based on the Franz-Keldysheffect, i.e., a change of the absorption spectrum caused by an appliedelectric field, which usually does not involve the excitation ofcarriers by the electric field.

By realizing N or more electrodes we can use the EAM as a high speedelectro-optical Digital-to-Analog converter, in a similar fashion as weused the MZI. As in modulator device 10 described above, this deviceincludes an electronic input 12 for receiving an input data word D of Nbits and an electrically controllable modulator 14 with M electrodes formodulating the intensity of an optical signal represented by arrow 16.An electrode actuating device 20 is responsive to the input data word Dto supply an actuating voltage to the actuating electrodes 18.

Here too, to mitigate the non-linear behavior of the device, electrodeactuating device 20 serves as a Digital-To-Digital Converter is employedto map an N bit input to a set of M electrodes, determining which of theM electrodes is actuated for each input value. The particular mappingvaries according to the response characteristic of the particularmodulator, but the principles of operation are fully analogous to thosedescribed above in the context of the Mach-Zehnder modulatorimplementation.

EXAMPLE III Modulated Light Generation Device

The present invention is applicable also to other devices where digitalinformation carried by voltage or current is translated into analogoptical signals in the form of optical power. This includes also lightgeneration devices like Light Emitting Diodes (LED) or semiconductorlasers. By way of illustration, FIG. 9 shows a semiconductor laserimplementation of the present invention.

Specifically, FIG. 9 shows a semiconductor laser DAC device, generallydesignated 40, constructed and operative according to the teachings ofthe present invention. The actuating electrode, typically implemented asa single contiguous electrode, is here subdivided into a thresholdelectrode 42 and M actuating electrodes 18. The threshold electrode 42is typically needed to reach a minimum activation current below which nosignificant output is generated. Actuating electrodes 18 are actuated asa function of the data bits of a digital input 12, in this case a 4-bitdata word, to generate an analog optical signal output of intensityrepresenting the digital input.

In the particularly simple implementation illustrated here, neither Lnor B is optimized. In other words, each actuating electrode 18 is partof a set interrelated with effective areas in 2:1 relation, and eachelectrode is actuated as a function of corresponding single bit of theinput data word. The actuating current is typically roughly proportionalto the area of electrodes actuated. This case is in itself believed tobe patentable, and is thought to be of practical importance. Optionally,a closer approximation to a linear response can be achieved by modifyingL (electrode proportions) and/or B (by including a DDC, not shown), allaccording to the principles discussed in detail above.

It will be appreciated that a similar device may be implemented usingother semiconductor light generating devices, such as LEDs. Dependingupon the details of the device used, threshold electrode 42 may not benecessary. This and any other necessary device-specific modificationswill be self-evident to one ordinarily skilled in the art.

EXAMPLE IV QAM Transmitter

Although described above in the context of devices forintensity/amplitude modulation, it should be noted that variousembodiments of the present invention are also effective for modifyingthe phase of an optical signal, and can therefore be used as highlycompact and simple QAM (Quadrature Amplitude Modulation) modulators ortransmitters.

Specifically, referring back to FIG. 1, it will be noted that, byconfiguring the digital-to-digital converter DDC 20 to apply differentactuation patterns to the electrodes on the two branches of the MachZehnder Modulator (MZM), modulation of the output signal phase can beachieved. Such an implementation will now be described with specificreference to FIGS. 10-13B.

Turning now to FIG. 10, there is shown a modulator device, generallydesignated 100, implemented as a QAM modulator. Modulator device 100 isessentially similar to the device of FIG. 1, but has been relabeled toconvey more clearly its function. Specifically, modulator device 100 hasa first plurality M₁ of actuating electrodes 18 a deployed in operativerelation to a first waveguide branch of the modulator and a secondplurality M₂ of actuating electrodes 18 b deployed in operative relationto a second waveguide branch of the modulator. In this case, M₁=M₂=5,giving a total number of actuating electrodes M=10. The electrodeactuating device is here shown as two distinct digital-to-digitalconverters 20 a and 20 b, which are configured to actuate the first andsecond pluralities of actuating electrodes 18 a and 18 b in response toa given input data word D_(i) so as to additionally modulate the phaseof the optical signal. Clearly, digital-to-digital converters 20 a and20 b can alternatively be combined into a single DDC with M=10 outputswith suitable connections to the actuating electrodes on both branchesof the waveguide.

It will be appreciated that modulator device 100 can serve as an optical16-QAM transmitter based on a single multi-electrode MZ,M (ME-MZM). Eachelectrode is divided into 5 segments, separately driven by two voltagesignals, 0 and V representing binary 0 and 1, respectively. The centerelectrode is a common ground for the active electrode segments. The roleof the modulator is to generate a desired M-QAM constellation which iscomposed of complex optical field values. The modulator is expected togenerate 2^(M) signals:s _(i) =r _(i) e ^(jθ) ^(i) , r _(i)>0, 0≦θ_(i)≦2π, i=1, . . . ,2^(M),  (10)

In our example of a 16-QAM with two sets of 5 electrodes, as an input,the QAM transmitter accepts an electrical 4-bit digital input word,denoted D_(i). The input word is mapped by two Digital-to-DigitalConverters (DDC) onto each of the 10 (electrode) segments, whose lengthsare the vectors L^(1,2). Each DDC outputs a 5-bit word, denoted as B_(i)¹ and B_(i) ² . The output of transmitter can be written as:

$\begin{matrix}{E_{{out},i} = {{\frac{1}{\sqrt{2}}E_{in}\exp\left\{ {{j2\pi}{\sum\limits_{j}^{N_{1}}{B_{ij}^{1}L_{j}^{1}}}} \right\}} + {\frac{1}{\sqrt{2}}E_{in}\exp\left\{ {{- {j2\pi}}{\sum\limits_{j}^{N_{2}}{B_{ij}^{2}L_{j}^{2}}}} \right\}}}} & (11)\end{matrix}$where E_(in) the optical field amplitude entering the modulator and N₁,N₂ are the number of segments on each arm. The elements L_(j)^(1,2)εL^(1,2) represent normalized electrode lengths on each arm. Thetwo-level B_(ij) ^(1,2) coefficients are elements of the matrices B_(i)^(1,2) and represent whether voltage v was applied to the j-th segment,on the respective arm. The index j enumerates the electrodes, j={1 . . .N_(1,2)} on each arm. The summation is normalized to span 0≦Σ_(j)^(N)B_(ij) ^(1,2)L_(j≦1), such that each arm induces a phaseshift of0≦Δφ≦2π. The application of the electrical signals is preferablydirectly upon the modulator without any mediating circuits, referred toherein as “Direct Digital Driving”. The modulator can be regarded as a2D Digital-to-Analog (D/A) converter, that converts a digital word intoan optical vector signal.

The design of the transmitter involves the setting of electrode lengths,L^(1,2) and DDC mappings, B_(i) ^(1,2), that will generate all therequired signals given in Eq. (10). An effective combination of theelectrode lengths and digital mappings may be derived either byanalytical methods or numerically. A simple numerical derivation willnow be presented.

A ME-MZM with N_(1,2) electrode segments on each arm is capable ofgenerating 2^((N) ¹ ^(+N) ² ⁾ signals. Thus, by choosing carefully theelectrode lengths, and assuming the number of segments sufficient togenerate at least 2^((N) ¹ ^(+N) ² ⁾>M different signals, all therequired signals described by Eq. (10) can be picked out of thegenerated signals pool.

As an example, FIG. 11A shows the an ideal Square-16-QAM constellation,which is the required signal constellation, and a signal pool which wasgenerated with {5,5} electrodes. The best matched signals at the poolare marked in figure. It can be seen that there is a good match betweenthe ideal and the best matched generated constellations.

Table 1 compares between an ideal 16-QAM constellation and a generatedconstellation with different combinations of number of electrodes eacharm. It presents the symbol minimum distance and the root mean squareerror. The latter provides a measure of agreement between the ideal andthe generated constellations. Configurations with {2,2}, {2,3} and {3,3}electrodes provide less than 16 different signals (minimum distance of0) and therefore cannot be used for generation of 16-QAM.

TABLE 1 N₁, N₂ Ideal 4, 2 4, 3 4, 4 4, 5 5, 5 5, 6 6, 6 Minimum 2 1.661.66 1.66 1.30 1.83 1.67 1.67 Distance RMSE 0 4.64 4.64 4.53 4.42 4.644.52 4.57

FIG. 11B presents the Symbol Error Rate (SER) performance for a range ofSignal to Noise Ratios (SNR) for an Additive White Gaussian Noise (AWGN)channel. It can be seen that when using {6,6} electrodes, theperformance graph closely matches that of ideal 16-QAM constellation.Using a higher number of electrodes can lower the SER ever furthertoward the ideal curve. SER performance can be slightly improved byfurther tuning the decoding hypothesis testing at the receiver side tothe generated constellation.

The electrode lengths used for the generation of FIG. 11B follow abinary sequences, L^(1,2)=2^(−j). Tweaking the electrode lengths hassmall impact on the modulator performance. In Eq. (11), we assumeddriving signals of 0 and 2V_(π). The high driving signal can be loweredby extending the total electrode length twice its size. The oppositesigns in the exponents in the two terms of Eq. (11) are alreadyimplemented by the geometry of the electrode disposition of FIG. 10,when the signs of the voltages applied are the same, since then theelectric fields have opposite directions. Other electrode dispositionsexist for different cuts of the electro-optic crystals, and theappropriate way of applying the voltage with the right signs should beclear to a person skilled in the art.

Referring now to FIGS. 12A-13B, it will be appreciated that the proposedmodulator is capable of generating high order QAM constellations. FIG.12A depicts the ideal 64-QAM constellation together with one generatedusing a {7,7} electrodes modulator, while FIG. 12B shows an ideal256-QAM constellation together with the one generated using a {10,10}electrodes modulator. It can be seen that there is a good match betweenthe ideal and the generated constellations. FIGS. 13A and 13B show theSymbol Error Rate performance for the generated constellations of FIGS.12A and 12B, respectively.

A simple implementation of this embodiment described thus far generatesNon-Return-to-Zero (NRZ) signals. NRZ permits constant intensity forsimilar consecutive bits, and is thus more susceptible toInter-Symbol-Interference and other nonlinear propagation distortions.Return-to-Zero (RZ) format is a pulsed modulation where the signal“returns to zero” after every bit. This format provides betterperformance than NRZ, but usually requires additional hardware, such asa pulse carver. A transmitter based on the modulator of an embodiment ofthe invention can readily be extended to produce RZ pulses with minimalif any additional hardware. By adding an RZ control line to the DDC, asshown in FIG. 10, which serves as a trigger determining whether theoutput optical amplitude should be zero or other, the whole modulatorwill be capable of generating RZ signals. When the added control line ishigh, the DDC will map the electrode actuation pattern to the patterncorresponding to the middle point of the constellation, which is zero.

For the constellation presented in FIGS. 10, B₁={00010} and B₂={01110}will output zero (or minimum) power because it will generate a phasedifference of π between the two arms of the MZM.

While the present invention has been presented as a digital-to-analogoptical modulator, it should be noted that each embodiment of theinvention may be modified to provide analog electrical output by use ofan optical-to-electrical (O/E) converter. This option is illustrated inFIG. 1 as optional O/E converter 30. If the O/E converter itself has anon-linear response function, the present invention may advantageouslybe used to optimize the system parameters to linearize the electricaloutput rather than the (intermediate) optical output. Analogously, anynonlinearity induced by the optical medium used for transmitting thesignal (e.g. optical fiber) can be compensated for by using O/Econverter 30 as a linearizing device.

The present invention is applicable to substantially all applicationsrequiring a DAC with optical or electrical output. Examples ofparticular interest include, but are not limited to, wirelesscommunications systems, fiber-optic communication systems, cellulartelephone networks, cable television, military applications, medicalapplications and hyper/super computer communications.

It will be appreciated that the above descriptions are intended only toserve as examples, and that many other embodiments are possible withinthe scope of the present invention as defined in the appended claims.

What is claimed is:
 1. A device for converting digital data intomodulation of an optical signal, the device comprising: (a) anelectronic input configured to receive an input data word of N bits; (b)an electrically controllable semiconductor light generating device or acontrollable optical modulator capable of modulating the intensity of anoptical signal, said light generating device or modulator including Mactuating electrodes where M≧N; and (c) an electrode actuating deviceassociated with said electronic input and said modulator, said electrodeactuating device being responsive to the input data word to supply anactuating voltage to said actuating electrodes, wherein said modulatorhas a response such that application of an actuating voltage toactuating electrodes in one-to-one relation to bits of said input dataword generates modulation of the optical signal according to a firstfunction of the input data word, and wherein said electrode actuatingdevice is configured to actuate said actuating electrodes so as togenerate an improved approximation to modulation of the optical signalas a second function of the input data word, said second function beingdifferent from said first function.
 2. The modulator device of claim 1,wherein said electrode actuating device includes a digital-to-digitalconverter.
 3. The device of claim 1, wherein said modulator has amaximum dynamic range, and wherein said electrode actuating device isconfigured to actuate said actuating electrodes so as to generatesubstantially linear modulation of the optical signal spanning amajority of said dynamic range.
 4. The device of claim 1, wherein saidelectrode actuating device is configured to apply one of two commonactuating voltages to said actuating electrodes.
 5. The device of claim1, wherein said first function is a non-linear function of the inputdata word, and wherein said second function is a linear function of theinput data word.
 6. The device of claim 1, further comprising an opticalto electrical converter deployed so as to generate an electrical signalas a function of intensity of the modulated optical signal.
 7. Thedevice of claim 1, wherein the semiconductor light generating device ora controllable optical modulator capable of modulating the intensity ofan optical signal is said semiconductor device.
 8. The device of claim1, wherein the semiconductor light generating device or a controllableoptical modulator capable of modulating the intensity of an opticalsignal is said modulator.
 9. The device of claim 8, wherein saidmodulator is an electro-absorption modulator.
 10. The device of claim 8,wherein said modulator is a Mach-Zehnder modulator.
 11. The device ofclaim 10, wherein modulator includes M actuating electrodes on each oftwo waveguide branches of said modulator.
 12. The device of claim 11,wherein M is greater than N.
 13. The device of claim 10, wherein said Mactuating electrodes include a first plurality M₁ of actuatingelectrodes deployed in operative relation to a first waveguide branch ofsaid modulator and a second plurality M₂ of actuating electrodesdeployed in operative relation to a second waveguide branch of saidmodulator, said electrode actuating device being configured to actuatesaid first and second pluralities of actuating electrodes so as toadditionally modulate the phase of the optical signal.
 14. The device ofclaim 13, wherein said electrode actuating device is configured toactuate said first and second pluralities of actuating electrodes so asto modulate the optical signal according to a QAM (Quadrature AmplitudeModulation) modulation scheme.
 15. The device of claim 14, wherein saidelectrode actuating device is configured to actuate said first andsecond pluralities of actuating electrodes so as to modulate the opticalsignal to a minimum amplitude for a return-to-zero signal betweensuccessive input data words.
 16. The device of claim 15, wherein M isgreater than N.
 17. The device of claim 14, wherein said actuatingelectrodes have differing effective areas and wherein said differingeffective areas form a set, members of said set being interrelatedapproximately by factors of two.
 18. The device of claim 14, whereinsaid actuating electrodes have differing effective areas and whereinsaid differing effective areas form a set, said set including at leastone effective area which is not interrelated to others of the set byfactors of two.
 19. A method for modulating an optical signal accordingto a digital data input word of N bits comprising: (a) processing thedigital data input word to generate an electrode actuation vector of Mvalues where M≧N; and (b) applying M voltage values corresponding tosaid actuation vector values to M actuating electrodes of anelectrically controllable optical device for modulating the intensity ofan optical signal exiting the device, wherein the device has a responsesuch that application of an actuating voltage to actuating electrodes inone-to-one relation to bits of said input data word generates modulationof the optical signal according to a first function, and whereinvoltages are applied to said actuating electrodes so as to generate animproved approximation to modulation of the optical signal as comparedto a second function of the input data word, said second function beingdifferent from said first function.
 20. The method of claim 19, whereinsaid electrode actuation vector is a binary vector, and wherein said Mvoltage values are selected from two voltage levels according to said Mbinary values.
 21. The method of claim 19, wherein said processing isperformed by a digital-to-digital converter.
 22. The method of claim 19,wherein said electrically controllable modulator is a modulatedsemiconductor light generating device.
 23. The method of claim 19,wherein said electrically controllable modulator is anelectro-absorption modulator.
 24. The method of claim 19, wherein M isgreater than N.
 25. The method of claim 19, further comprisinggenerating an electrical output as a function of the intensity of themodulated optical signal.
 26. The method of claim 19, wherein theoptical device is an optical modulator.
 27. The method of claim 26,wherein said electrically controllable modulator is a Mach-Zehndermodulator.
 28. The method of claim 27, wherein said M actuatingelectrodes include a first plurality M₁ of actuating electrodes deployedin operative relation to a first waveguide branch of said modulator anda second plurality M₂ of actuating electrodes deployed in operativerelation to a second waveguide branch of said modulator, and whereinsaid processing is performed by at least one digital-to-digitalconverter, said electrode actuating vector being defined such that saidvoltage values applied to said first and second pluralities of actuatingelectrodes additionally modulates the phase of the optical signal. 29.The method of claim 28, wherein said electrode actuating vector isdefined such that said voltage values applied to said first and secondpluralities of actuating electrodes modulate the optical signalaccording to a QAM modulation.
 30. The modulator device of claim 29,further comprising applying a set of voltage values to said first andsecond pluralities of actuating electrodes so as to modulate the opticalsignal to a minimum amplitude for a return-to-zero signal betweensuccessive input data words.
 31. A modulator device for converting aninput signal into modulation of an optical signal, the modulator devicecomprising: (a) an electronic input for receiving an input signal; (b) aMach-Zender optical modulator device capable of modulation of an opticalsignal to produce a modulated optical signal, said modulator includingtwo light paths and a plurality of actuating electrodes on each lightpath; (c) an electrode actuating device associated with said electronicinput said electrode actuating device being responsive to the inputsignal to supply respective actuating voltages to said actuatingelectrodes, thereby generating a modulated output signal responsive tosaid input signal; and wherein said M actuating electrodes include afirst plurality M₁ of actuating electrodes deployed in operativerelation to a first waveguide branch of said modulator and a secondplurality M₂ of actuating electrodes deployed in operative relation to asecond waveguide branch of said modulator, said electrode actuatingdevice being configured to actuate said first and second pluralities ofactuating electrodes so as to modulate the amplitude and phase of theoptical signal.
 32. The modulator device of claim 31, wherein at leastsome of said M actuating electrodes have differing effective areas. 33.The modulator device of claim 32, wherein differing effective areas ofone or both of M₁ or M₂ form a set, members of said set beinginterrelated approximately by factors of two.
 34. The modulator deviceof claim 32, wherein said differing effective areas form a set, said setincluding at least one effective area which is not interrelated toothers of the set by factors of two.
 35. The modulator device of claim31, wherein M₁=N.
 36. The modulator device of claim 31, wherein themodulated output signal corresponds to a predetermined function of saidinput function.
 37. The modulator device of claim 31, wherein saidelectrode actuating device is configured to actuate said first andsecond pluralities of actuating electrodes so as to modulate the opticalsignal according to a QAM (Quadrature Amplitude Modulation) modulationscheme.
 38. The modulator device of claim 37, wherein said QAM schemehas at least 16 constellation points.
 39. The modulator device of claim31, wherein M voltages are applied to said electrodes and , and whereinsaid M voltage values are selected from two voltage levels according tosaid M binary values.
 40. The modulator device of claim 31, wherein theinput signal is a digital signal.
 41. The modulator device of claim 31,wherein M₁ is greater than N.